Could you please start by telling us a bit about yourself?
I’m Steve Emery, heritage fire consultant with Heritage Fire Consultancy limited, chair of the IFE SIG for heritage buildings and member of the IFE’s International General Assembly.
Please explain your volunteer role and what it involves.
I am chair of the Special Interest Group for Heritage Buildings, which was set up in 2008 with a steering group of 12 colleagues and friends. Our aim was to undertake research into fire safety issues in heritage buildings, write guidance where it is not available and to provide fire safety advice to be understood by all. This group has now grown to a membership of 18 in the steering group and 31 corresponding members. We meet three or four times a year.
What is your favourite part of volunteering?
Meeting like-minded colleagues to discuss challenging issues, share experiences, horizon scanning and keeping at the forefront of technological advances in fire engineering.
What is an accomplishment that you are proud of achieving in your capacity as Heritage SIG chair?
Being unexpectedly awarded the honour of Companion Graduate to the IFE for services to fire safety.
What is the most challenging part of your volunteer role?
Delegation and organising other steering group members to share the workload.
How has volunteering benefitted you and your career?
I was asked by the former chair of the IFE Technical and Strategic Advisory Group, now known as the Technical Committee, to form the SIG in 2008 whilst working as the fire officer for English Heritage. This was a fantastic opportunity to set up a formal group of professionals from a variety of backgrounds, such as building control, conservation, heritage architecture, fire and rescue services, sprinkler engineering, National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, the Royal Household and other fire engineers. This broad network of people with their wide experience of all aspects of heritage buildings has been of utmost importance in my career.
Can you tell us about the series you produced for the IFE’s CPD Hub and why you decided to get involved in this?
At the start of the pandemic, CPD events were cancelled. The IFE, like others, were keen to bridge this gap and created the online CPD hub. This was a great opportunity to promote the work of the SIG and record a series of sessions that members would find useful, for all of which the SIG have produced guidance documents.
Has the SIG been involved in any recent projects or pieces of work that you can share?
Our former secretary has been updating the FPA guide to fire safety in heritage buildings with several of the steering group; this project is now approaching completion. Our next project will be writing guidance on other subjects, such as fire safety in cathedrals and principal churches.
What advice would you offer people who are thinking about becoming an IFE volunteer?
Choose a subject that you are passionate about and want to spend time researching. There is nothing more rewarding than being an expert in your field and volunteering is an excellent way towards achieving this.
How would you describe the IFE and what the institution does for the fire sector?
I think about the IFE as an international family of fire professionals and whilst it provides for the fire sector with its qualifications, exams and directories, the most important aspect is the messages it is able to provide to the wider public.